Japan Culture Project

The Manga de Japan of "Japan Culture Project" series are the series of articles about Japanese food.
Japan Culture Project
May 02 ,2019 SERIES

Japanese Soul Food -Annual Event- : May - Hatsu-gatsuo, Kabuto-ni, Chimaki [ Japan Culture Project ]

One of the five seasonal festivals. Originally an unlucky day in China, due to the pair of odd numbers in its date, where irises and mugwort were used to ward off evil and venomous insects from homes.
The Edo Period saw the word for the iris "shoubu" become a homophone for "warlike spirit", so it became customary to decorate helmets, armor, warbanners and streamers with irises in hopes of success in battle. Originally meant to bring continued success of the children of samurai warriors, it has survived to this day as a boys' festival.

  • Traditional Culture
  • Food & Sweets
Jun 04 ,2019 SERIES

Japanese Soul Food -Annual Event- : June - Seven-Herb Rice Porridge, Minazuki [ Japan Culture Project ]

In the past, ice was a precious commodity. The tradition of saving ice from the winter and presenting it to emperors and generals lead to the creation of this event. Buildings and caves in which this ice was stored were known as ice houses, or himuro.
Afterwards, any food that was cut into trapezoids and made to look like ice was called an ice house, or himuro.

[ Event ]
Himuro no Sekku / June 1st

[ Ingredients ]
Mochi, Red beans and Eggs

[ Wishing plate ]
Food and candy are made to look like ice in hopes of feeling cool and refreshed.

  • Traditional Culture
  • Popular ＆ Series
Jul 02 ,2019 SERIES

Japanese Soul Food -Annual Event- : July - Tanabata Noodles [ Japan Culture Project ]

One of the five seasonal festivals. It takes its beginning in a Chinese tradition, occurring as the Cowherd star crosses the Milky Way by the bridge of magpies' wings spread wide, to once a year meet the Weaver star and enjoy their brief time together.

[ Event ]
Tanabata Festival / July 7th

[ Ingredients ]
Somen (white noodles) and Summer vegetables such as cucumber

[ Wishing plate ]
Somen noodles are likened to thread in honor of Orihime, the goddess of weaving.

  • Traditional Culture
  • Food & Sweets
Aug 13 ,2019 SERIES

Japanese Soul Food -Annual Event- : August - Buddhist Cuisine [ Japan Culture Project ]

Obon festival is a religious ceremony to welcome the ancestors and their spirits as they return to their homes during the festival time.

[ Event ]
Obon(Bon Festival) / Depending on provinces, July 15th (New Bon) on the new calendar or August 15th (Tsukiokure Bon).

[ Ingredients ]
Summer vegetables(cucumber, eggplant, pumpkin etc.)

[ Wishing plate ]
Cuisine without any meat or fish in accordance with the Buddhist precept to not destroy life.

  • Traditional Culture
  • Food & Sweets
Sep 03 ,2019 SERIES

Japanese Soul Food -Annual Event- : September - Tsukimi Dango(Otsukimi), Ohagi(Ohigan) [ Japan Culture Project ]

Otsukimi, "moon viewing", is called the 15th night, and formerly the day of the "feast of moon-watching" in Heian period. People have been enjoying the beauty of the full moon on this day since ancient times. The Heian nobles composed poetry in competition with each other while gazing at the moon. On Ohigan, the night becomes equal to the day in duration, while the Sun rises due East, and sets due West.
According to Buddhism, the azimuth of the setting Sun marked the direction to Sukhāvatī, or the Western Paradise, so this festival reflected the desire for the people's own ancestors' souls to travel there, as well.

  • Traditional Culture
  • Food & Sweets
Oct 19 ,2019 SERIES

Japanese Soul Food -Annual Event- : October - Bettarazuke, Ebisu-kou [ Japan Culture Project ]

In merchant families, they often pray for prosperous business, and worship Ebisu.

[ Event ]
Ebisuko Bettara-shi / October 20 - 22

[ Ingredients ]
Daikon

[ Wishing plate ]
A pickled vegetable dish made with daikon, which is harvested in autumn.

  • Traditional Culture
  • Food & Sweets
Nov 15 ,2019 SERIES

Japanese Soul Food -Annual Event- : November - Sekihan [ Japan Culture Project ]

Since the old days, people have been celebrating "Kamioki" when a child turns 3, "Hakamagi" when a boy turns 5, "Obitoki" when a girl turns 7, expressing gratitude for their children's growth.

[ Event ]
Shichi-Go-San / November 15th

[ Ingredients ]
Red beans, Sticky rice

[ Wishing plate ]
Made to celebrate and with feelings of gratitude for children's growth.

  • Traditional Culture
  • Food & Sweets
Dec 26 ,2019 SERIES

Japanese Soul Food -Annual Event- : December - Toshikoshi Soba [ Japan Culture Project ]

From around the middle of the Edo period, it became customary in the city of Edo to eat soba on the last day of every month and on Setsubun. That led to the present-day custom of eating toshikoshi soba on New Year's Eve. It can be easily eaten during the busy night of New Year's Eve with wishes for a long and fulfilling life.

  • Traditional Culture
  • Food & Sweets
Jan 01 ,2020 SERIES

Japanese Soul Food -Annual Event- : New Year - Osechi Cuisine [ Japan Culture Project ]

New Year's Day is one of the most important in Japan, and families spend it together. This is a special cuisine eaten for the first meal of the New Year, and it is the most valued of ceremonial dishes.

  • Traditional Culture
  • Food & Sweets
Jan 07 ,2020 SERIES

Japanese Soul Food -Annual Event- : January - Seven-Herb Rice Porridge [ Japan Culture Project ]

January 7th marks Jinjitsu or Human Day, one of the five seasonal festivals (Jinjitsu, Jōji, Tango, Shichiseki, Chōyō). The five festivals, originating from China, happen on odd day and month numbers. In China, odd numbers are "positive", and overlapping positives are deemed unlucky. However, in Japan these days became national holidays for banishing evil.

  • Traditional Culture
  • Food & Sweets
Feb 01 ,2020 SERIES

Japanese Soul Food -Annual Event- : February - Bean and Sardine Dishes [ Japan Culture Project ]

Setsubun marks the end of winter. While the following day saw the shift to spring, surviving the cold season was by no means easy in the old days. The role of Setsubun was to banish this evil cold, and to invite the gods of spring in.

[ Event ]
Setsubun (The Bean-Throwing Festival)
Early February, the day before spring

[ Ingredients ]
Been, Sardine, Eho-Maki (Sushi roll)

[ Wishing plate ]
Beans, "mame", express the prayer for the defeat of evil, "mametsu", for the safety of the household and protection from fire.

  • Traditional Culture
  • Food & Sweets
Mar 03 ,2020 SERIES

Japanese Soul Food -Annual Event- : March - Chirashizushi and Clam Soup [ Japan Culture Project ]

Originally a Chinese ceremony, taking place on "snake day" at the beginning of March, where people would purify their bodies in the river. Now known as a “ Hinamatsuri” (Girls’ day)for bring the healthy and growth for girls.

[ Event ]
Peach festival (Hinamaturi)
March 3rd

[ Ingredients ]
Clam
Scattered sushi
Hishi-mochi

[ Wishing plate ]
Made with prayers for girls' health and growth and with wishes for marital harmony.

  • Traditional Culture
  • Food & Sweets

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